One East Kentucky Leverages PlaceVR Technology to Attract and Meet with Site Selectors Virtually

360-Degree Video and Virtual Reality Meetings App Showcases Industrial Land in Eastern Kentucky

It might be a while before travel concerns because of COVID-19 lift, but One East Kentucky is making sure that economic development can continue to move forward by launching a new 360-degree video featuring the Kentucky Enterprise Industrial Park.

The video begins with a stunning overlook of the Pikeville Cut-Through project before taking the viewer to the industrial park site. Virtual reality (VR) headsets make it possible to block out all distractions from the scene and give the viewer an experience that mimics really being in a new place.

"We saw Golden Shovel's PlaceVR technology at several conferences and were impressed with what we saw," said Chuck Sexton, President and CEO of One East Kentucky. "Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit and we knew that this was what we needed to not only keep moving forward with economic development but to extend our reach internationally as well."

Sexton and his colleagues will not only be able to showcase their community and available land with 360-degree video and VR, but they'll also be able to meet with investors and site selectors in a virtual environment.

"In our Virtual Meetings App, One East Kentucky will essentially have a conference room where they can meet with prospects in the middle of their video," said Aaron Brossoit, CEO of Golden Shovel Agency. "They can play and pause their video, answering questions to move their sales process forward as though they were meeting in person."

One East Kentucky is collaborating with Golden Shovel Agency to create a series of six videos and 3D building renderings that will market available land in industrial park sites and existing buildings that are for sale.

ONE EAST KENTUCKY was established in 2015 as east Kentucky's Center of Economic Development Excellence and is a 501(c)3 regional economic development organization responsible for spearheading the growth and diversification of eastern Kentucky's economic base through recruiting new industry, jobs, and investment to the heart of Appalachia. Since 2016, One East Kentucky has announced over 1,000 new jobs and $154.6 million in capital investment.

GOLDEN SHOVEL AGENCY'S PLACEVR is a full-service economic development firm specializing in workforce attraction for economic and community development. PlaceVR is a revolutionary new approach to economic development that harnesses emerging 360-degree video and virtual reality technologies to create immersive experiences that drive business and workforce recruitment. Our productions combine a depth of experience in both virtual reality production, marketing, and communications to bring to life an entirely new strategy for attracting businesses, talent, and visitors.